DPIIT extends footwear legacy stock clearance deadline to July 31, 2027
Synopsis
DPIIT has quietly given India's footwear industry a crucial one-year reprieve — pushing the legacy stock clearance deadline to July 2027 and unlocking an annual R&D import window of 4,500 pairs. The move signals that mandatory BIS certification is coming, but the government is choosing managed transition over abrupt enforcement.
Key Takeaways
DPIIT has extended the footwear legacy stock clearance deadline from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027 .
Amendments apply to two QCOs covering leather, rubber, and polymeric material footwear notified under the 2024 orders.
Manufacturers may now import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for R&D and non-commercial purposes .
R&D samples must be marked 'NOT FOR SALE' , cannot be sold commercially, and must be scrapped after use.
After 31 July 2027 , only BIS-certified footwear will be permitted for commercial sale in India.
The amendments are aligned with the Make in India initiative and PM Modi's 'Zero Defect, Zero Effect' manufacturing vision.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has amended two Quality Control Orders (QCOs) governing the footwear sector, extending the deadline for legacy stock clearance by one year — from 31 July 2026 to 31 July 2027 — and permitting manufacturers to import up to 4,500 footwear pairs annually for research and development. The amendments, notified on 9 July 2025, are aimed at easing compliance burdens while reinforcing BIS certification standards across India's footwear industry.
Key Amendments to the Quality Control Orders
The changes apply to two specific orders: the Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024, and the Footwear Made from All Rubber and All Polymeric Material and Its Components (Quality Control) Order, 2024. Together, these orders set mandatory quality benchmarks for a broad range of footwear products sold in the Indian market.
The one-year extension acknowledges the seasonal nature of footwear products, where inventories frequently remain within the supply chain beyond a single selling cycle. Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers will now have additional time for the orderly liquidation of existing stock before the BIS-certification mandate takes full effect.
R&D Sample Import Provision
A new exemption allows manufacturers of leather and footwear products to import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for research, development, and other non-commercial purposes. These samples must be prominently marked and embossed with the words 'NOT FOR SALE' and are required to be disposed of as scrap after use. Commercial sale of such samples is expressly prohibited.
Manufacturers will be required to maintain year-wise records of all such imports and furnish them to the Union government on demand. The provision is designed to help manufacturers evaluate product designs, assess documentation requirements for product assessment, and determine genuine R&D sample needs — including for vendor presentations and domestic replication.
Why the Extension Matters for the Industry
India's footwear sector is one of the largest in the world by volume, and the QCO framework introduced in 2024 marked a significant quality upgrade mandate. However, the seasonal inventory cycle means that legacy stock — produced before the QCO standards came into force — can linger in distribution channels for extended periods. The one-year extension is expected to reduce compliance disruption for small and mid-sized manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who may otherwise face penalties for selling non-BIS-certified stock.
Notably, the amendments do not dilute the underlying quality standards — they solely adjust the transition timeline. Once the 31 July 2027 deadline passes, only BIS-certified footwear will be permitted for commercial sale in India.
Alignment with Make in India and Quality Goals
According to the official statement, the measures align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Zero Defect, Zero Effect' manufacturing vision and are intended to advance the objectives of the Make in India initiative. Officials stated that strengthening India's position as a global hub for quality manufacturing remains a central policy objective, and the transitional provisions are designed to support product innovation without compromising quality standards.
Industry bodies are expected to welcome the relief, particularly smaller manufacturers who faced operational strain under the original timeline. The next milestone to watch is whether further sectoral QCO amendments follow as the government continues to expand its quality control framework to other manufacturing segments.
Point of View
But it also underscores a recurring tension in India's quality regulation rollouts: ambitious timelines set without adequate transition infrastructure. The footwear sector — dominated by MSMEs with thin margins and seasonal inventory cycles — was always an unlikely candidate for clean, on-schedule compliance. The real question is whether the 2027 deadline will hold, or whether the industry will seek another extension as the date approaches. The R&D sample provision is a welcome structural addition, but the 4,500-pair cap and the 'NOT FOR SALE' embossing requirement suggest the government is wary of the exemption being misused as a parallel import channel. Enforcement of that provision will be the harder test.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has DPIIT changed in the footwear Quality Control Orders?
DPIIT has amended two QCOs — covering leather, rubber, and polymeric material footwear — to extend the legacy stock clearance deadline by one year to 31 July 2027, and to allow manufacturers to import up to 4,500 footwear pairs annually for R&D purposes. The amendments were notified on 9 July 2025.
Why has the legacy stock clearance deadline been extended?
Footwear products are largely seasonal, and inventories often remain in the supply chain beyond a single selling cycle. The extension gives manufacturers, distributors, and retailers adequate time to liquidate existing non-BIS-certified stock in an orderly manner before the full mandate kicks in.
What are the rules for importing footwear samples under the new R&D exemption?
Manufacturers may import up to 4,500 pairs of footwear annually for non-commercial R&D purposes. These samples must be marked 'NOT FOR SALE', cannot be sold commercially, must be scrapped after use, and importers are required to maintain year-wise records available for government inspection.
When will only BIS-certified footwear be allowed for sale in India?
From 1 August 2027, only BIS-certified footwear will be permitted for commercial sale in India. The extended deadline of 31 July 2027 is the final transition window under the amended QCOs.
How do these amendments support the Make in India initiative?
According to the official statement, the measures align with PM Narendra Modi's 'Zero Defect, Zero Effect' manufacturing vision and aim to strengthen India's position as a global quality manufacturing hub. The R&D sample provision is specifically intended to support product innovation and domestic replication of designs.
